North American Soccer League Announces 2014 Fall Schedule

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (January 16, 2014) — The North American Soccer League announced the 2014 Fall Schedule on Thursday, determining that the Rowdies will open up the season at home on Saturday, July 12 against the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Rowdies will host defending champions New York Cosmos on Saturday, August 16, with the in-state rivalry against Ft. Lauderdale coming to St. Petersburg on Thursday, September 27.

The 10 teams competing to earn a berth at NASL Soccer Bowl 2014 will kick off the 2014 Fall Season following a mid-season break for the World Cup tournament, which concludes the same weekend.

“We are thrilled to begin and end the fall season at home,” said club owner Bill Edwards. “The support of our dedicated fans, and the atmosphere they create, will make a tremendous difference in kicking off the Fall Season. We’re confident this will help us achieve our goal to bring the NASL Soccer Bowl Trophy back to St. Pete.”

By the time NASL action resumes in July, the 2014 Spring Season title winner will have earned the right to host NASL Soccer Bowl 2014. The Rowdies will start the Fall Season at home against last year’s Soccer Bowl finalist Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday, July 12. Just like the Spring Season, the Rowdies will travel to face Indy 11 in Week 2, looking for a successful start to the Fall Season.

The Rowdies match against the San Antonio Scorpions will be played on Friday, July 25 at Al Lang Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The legendary Florida Derby against Ft. Lauderdale resumes on Saturday August 2 at Lockhart Stadium, when the Rowdies will look to continue their dominance over the Strikers. A week later, the Green and Gold will travel to the fortress that is WakeMed Soccer Park where the host Carolina RailHawks were unbeaten in 2013.

After two tough road matches, the Rowdies will have back-to-back home matches against the Cosmos and RailHawks respectively. Al Lang will again host back-to-back home matches against the Strikers and Edmonton on September 27 and October 4 respectively. The Rowdies will close the season at home against Indy 11 on Saturday, November 1.

NASL clubs will face each opponent once at home and once away during an 18-game balanced schedule with a total of 90 games to be played over a 17-week period. Each team will play one midweek game as Wednesday night soccer comes to the NASL in July, August and October.

“We believe there will be a great momentum and interest in soccer across North America when our Fall Season kicks off following the FIFA World Cup,” said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. “We aim to capitalize on that excitement as our clubs keep the action flowing and NASL fans will have the added bonus of several games to enjoy during the work week.”

2014 marks the second consecutive year that the NASL has implemented a split season format with the Spring Season winner earning the right to host Soccer Bowl and take on the Fall Season winner.

2014 North American Soccer League Fall Schedule (All dates and kickoff times subject to change)

Date

Home Team

Away Team

Time (ET)

Saturday, July 12

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

Atlanta Silverbacks

7.30pm

Saturday, July 19

Indy Eleven

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

7.30pm

Friday, July 25

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

San Antonio Scorpions

7.30pm

Saturday, Aug. 2

Fort Lauderdale Strikers

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

7.30pm

Saturday, Aug. 9

Carolina RailHawks

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

7.30pm

Saturday, Aug. 16

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

New York Cosmos

7.30pm

Saturday, Aug. 23

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

Carolina RailHawks

7.30pm

Saturday, Aug. 30

Ottawa Fury FC

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

7pm

Saturday, Sept. 6

Minnesota United FC

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

TBD

Saturday, Sept. 13

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

Ottawa Fury FC

7.30pm

Sunday, Sept. 21

FC Edmonton

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

4pm

Saturday, Sept. 27

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers

7.30pm

Saturday, Oct. 4

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

FC Edmonton

7.30pm

Saturday, Oct. 11*

San Antonio Scorpions

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

TBD

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

Minnesota United FC

7.30pm

Saturday, Oct. 18

Atlanta Silverbacks

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

TBD

Saturday, Oct. 25

New York Cosmos

vs.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

7pm

Saturday, Nov. 1

Tampa Bay Rowdies

vs.

Indy Eleven

7.30pm

About the NASL

The North American Soccer League is a professional soccer league established in the United States and Canada. The NASL member teams are: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Indy Eleven, Minnesota United FC, New York Cosmos, Ottawa Fury FC, San Antonio Scorpions FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies. Virginia Cavalry FC and clubs in Jacksonville and Oklahoma City will commence play in 2015.

SOURCE: Tampa Bay Rowdies Media

North American Soccer League Announces 2014 Fall Schedule
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